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Welcome back my friends. It is Tuesday, June 4th, and I’m glad you could join me.

Today we are going to talk about the K.I.S.S. style of writing, or Keep It Simple Stupid.

It is possible to fall too deeply in love with words. Sometimes….heck, most of the time, the best route between beginning and end is the simplest route.

Why use a five-syllable word when a two-syllable word will do? Chances are, your readers won’t understand what the five-syllable word means anyway, so how about writing to their level? Using two adjectives when one perfectly chosen adjective will work nicely is a waste of time and effort.

The same can be said of adverbs. Avoid them like the plague. If you have done your job as a writer, most adverbs are not necessary. I think it was Hemingway who said that adverbs are the tools of weak writers. I happen to concur with that assessment.

Be natural! Writing is its best when it sounds like conversation between two people. Find your most natural voice and then use it to full advantage.

Again we are talking about simplicity in writing. I have had conversations with college intellectuals that left me feeling like I had just kissed a dead fish. On the other hand, I have had conversations that felt like a passionate smooch with Heidi Klum. No comparison if you get my drift.

SITE OF THE DAY

Are you interested in protecting your work with a copyright? Find out how to do so at Copyright.com, found here.

PROMPT OF THE DAY

I love picture prompts and I hope you do as well. Here is today’s prompt…..what emotions do you feel when you look at this picture? Any memories come to mind? Let them loose and write about them.

CONTEST OF THE DAY

May Sarton Poetry Contest. Entry fee of $25 and deadline of June 30th….first prize $1000 and book publishing. Find it here.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE

Hey, this is only Tuesday. We have three more days of fun together, so get comfortable. I’ll go out for some snacks and be back tomorrow to serve them to you. As always, you get this free of charge and I’m happy to deliver.

Yay to three more days of fun and will tell you that I know I will start to read something and do many times skim and skip over. It does happen, but I do try for the most part to keep it simple when I write, but I know I, too, am guilty of this one!!

Sooo interesting, Bill! I am trying to keep out the parts people skip too! lol..As far as copyrighting goes – i just had a LOOOOONG conversation with Rolly about just that…still have more to learn and will register a copyright if and when i ever publish anything..lol..
this contest sounds veddy veddy inneresting also!
love yaxx

I read this when I was in meetings at school (no, I wasn’t being bad…we’re allowed to check messages…can you imagine that?!? We’re actually allowed to have cell phones out for all day meetings because we’re treated like adults..but I’ve gone on a tangent) – anyways, your post made me smile because the KISS principle is so relevant on so many things. I hope you’ve had a wonderful day!

Awesome advice Bill! Must agree – for the first few months while I wrote, even up until recently on my blog I wrote as if I was taking at someone, and not with someone. BIG difference. Finally feel like I’m getting it right. Have a brilliant day and enjoy the sunshine!